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I’ve been on a big reading kick lately. Between researching for and writing my own book and trying to read my kids 1,000 books this year, 2019 is shaping up to be a year of the written word.

People often ask what I’m reading so I thought I’d share some of my favorites of the year so far. Please note I may make a small commission for books purchased through the following links.

A Life of Being, Having and Doing EnoughThis book challenges you to think about things differently. It’s spiritual, rather than faith-based and while I don’t totally align with all he has to say, this was an encouraging read.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpI know her show is all the rage right now but this book changed my life when it came out in 2014. We’re getting ready to move into a new house and attempting to declutter the house we’re in so it was time for a refresher and a reread of Marie Kondo’s method!

The Art Forger
I love a good art heist movie so I had to give this fiction story a shot. It got boring in parts but I was able to speed through it and overall found it fairly enjoyable.

Atomic Habits
I love reading about routines and habits and this book picks up where The Power of Habit left off. I LOVED it. While The Power of Habits was hard for me to get into, Atomic Habits had me enthralled from the beginning.

The Hope QuotientI actually finished this book in December but I can’t stop thinking about its faith-based perspective increasing your level of hope. It talks about things you can do to increase the hope in your life. It’s such a motivational read.

Chasing SlowErin’s writing is simply beautiful. This is a peaceful read, the perfect words to end each night before you go to bed.

The Paleo Kids CookbookAs you know, I’m on a health journey this year and trying to incorporate more paleo meals for the entire family. I grabbed this cookbook and think we’re going to start with the tortilla recipe because it looks delicious!

I spent a lot of time in the last year focusing on my health. It’s not simply that I want to lose weight, I want to feel good. I want a clearer, sharper mind so that I can take on big work projects that help change people’s lives. I want a body that will keep up with my busy life. I want to be an example to my children. I want to take care of myself so I can take care of my people (hello, H.E.A.R.T. goals in practice!). I’ll turn 40 this year and I want to feel stronger and better than I ever have!

A big part of my health journey was finding a diet program that worked for me. Enter FASTer Way to Fat Loss (FWTFL). I’m starting my third round next week and because I’ve gotten so many questions about this program, I wanted to answer a few of them here.

I went through the program twice last year and saw results both times. I lost 17 pounds in six weeks and felt absolutely amazing. When I’m following the principles of the program, I don’t feel deprived and I see results. What more could you ask for?

Now, let’s get to your questions and I’ll also share some tips if you want to try it yourself!

What is FASTer Way to Fat Loss?
FWTFL is a six-week program that uses carb cycling, intermittent fasting, and exercise to help you lose weight. When you sign up, you receive guides on workout routines, meal suggestions, access to private Facebook groups, and a workbook. Through the program, you’ll count your macronutrients and be instructed on carb cycling. This is a brand new way of thinking about what you’re consuming and it has truly transformed the way I make decisions about food. You can sign up for the next round of the program here.

Is FASTer Way to Fat Loss a keto (ketogenic) diet?
The short answer is no. FWTFL focuses on carb cycling, eating the right macros and nutrients, at specific times. Each day of the week has a designated carb intake level so some days are low carb days and other days are high carb days.

What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is an eating style where you eat within a specific time frame and fast the remainder of the day. It has easily been my favorite part of this program. We’re programmed to think that breakfast is the most important meal of the day so I’ve always felt guilty about skipping breakfast in the past. When this program encouraged me to stop and think about intermittent fasting, something clicked. Plus, your willpower diminishes as the day goes on. It’s much easier to skip breakfast than to turn down a glass of wine at night (Can I get an amen?) I typically fast from 8 pm until noon the next day.

What about the workouts?I can’t tell you that I’ve found great success with the workouts because I simply haven’t been doing them. And yet, I still lost 17 pounds in six weeks! The FWTFL team has great, cardio and HIIT/metabolic training workouts that you can follow along with. I am hoping to add these to my routine this next round to see how they improve my results.

If you’re starting out on your FWTFL journey, here are some great tips and tools that have helped me see success on the program.

Make My Fitness Pal your friend. Download the free My Fitness Pal app and get comfortable using it to track your food intake. I upgraded to the paid program so that I could get a better gauge on my macros.

Keep healthy food options around the house. We can map out the perfect meal plan and exercise routine yet still make bad decisions when we don’t have access to the right foods or we have easy access to the wrong foods. I have found that keeping healthy, FWTFL friendly options around the house was the best way to combat pitfalls. Here are some of my family’s favorites:

Pecan butter – This is delicious on bread, fruit or straight out of the container on a spoon.

Lara Bars – I keep these in my purse and car as a great on-the-go option.

Prepare your closet. As I mentioned above, I don’t typically keep up with the workouts on FWTFL. That said, I find that if I lace up sneakers every day, I move more. Whether that’s taking a walking with my husband or playing with the kids, I’m more inclined to be on the move if I dress the part. I keep cute but comfortable clothes at the front of my closet so I can easily make good decisions when getting dressed in the morning. Cute because you feel better when you look better and comfortable to remove any excuse to not get moving. Here are a few pieces I’ve been loving lately:

Cute sneakers – These make me feel pulled together and ready to get to work at the same time. Plus, I get compliments every single time I wear them.

New Balance underwear – If you are like me, you need to be reminded that every few years it’s time to upgrade your underwear situation. This is your friendly reminder and these are a great option.

Terry Sweatshirt – Cute, comfy and affordable makes this sweatshirt a no brainer.

Drink all the water. Every diet, weight loss plan or healthy living guideline tells you to drink more water. Not to be a broken record, but you need to drink more water. I find that when I’m hydrated, all systems work better. Drinking water is a keystone habit that will aid success in any healthy living journey.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can read up on the FWTFL program here.

That’s it! Any other FWTFL questions? I’ll be sharing my FWTFL journey over on Instagram. I’d love for you to follow along and join me!

HEAR:K-Love —Or silence, especially when my kids aren’t in the car. I know that’s not glamorous, but neither is real life.

WATCH:Chicago P.D. — I have a weird fascination with crime dramas, y’all. So when I can’t sleep, this is my latest go-to. Feel free to laugh. (I’d also be lying if I didn’t say that I can’t wait to watch Fuller House.)

DO:Oil painting — This is my latest creative exercise. Still trying to figure it out, but I’m sure having fun with the journey.